EU Media Policy
Dr. Tim Raats
Lesson 2
Introduction Part II
History of the EU
- First phase of the EU: Making people dependent economically to promote peace
- Treaty of Rome 1957: European Economic Community which laid basis for what
would become the EU. This economic community consisted of ECSC and EURATOM.
- 1965: merger treaty created and overarching frame between all the three above
- 1986: very important year for media policy, foundations prepared here for what we
now know as the EU with a single act, creating a single market.
- Maastricht Treaty 1993: Community to union
Exam – important to know and be familiar with legislative documents, treaties etc.
European Institutions
European Council
- EU’s highest level policy making body which have summit conferences.
- Presidents and prime ministers of the EU member states the president of the
European Commission and the presence of President of European parliament.
- With Maastricht Treaty it become the initiator of major policies.
European Parliament
- Groups of political families; not grouped by nations but by political interests
- Operate similarly to national parliaments; constitutional type powers, legislative.
European Commission
- The government of the EU
- Each member state has one commissioner, and it is the member state that decides
who is that representative. One term for the commissioners who meet once a week.
They get a term of 5 years and have to pass an exam in order to take the position.
- They initiate the legislation. Power of initiative (on slides)
Council of the European Union
- Second branch of legislative power: parliament, commission and council.
- Ministers of the governments of each members states. The president of the EU chairs
each council. Ex. BE is president of Council, Belgian minister of agriculture is head.
- Organized like this: President along with secretary general and next member state,
CORPER
- Pass European laws, coordinate economic policies, conclude international
agreements, approve EU budget jointly with parliament, etc.
Economic and Social Committee
- no legislative power, but must be consulted, provide opinion/advice on legislation.
- Check the labor rights of employees are not overlooked or ignored in directives
- Has representatives of work unions, workers organizations
Committee of the Regions
- no legislative power but must be consulted & provide opinion/advice on legislation.
- Consists of political members needing to provide advice
- Important in countries where specifically regions are important, i.e., Spain with
Catalonia, Belgium with its three clearly distinct regions and so on.
- Check if directives or regulations considers the interest of several regions too.
Court of Justice of the EU
- Deals with complaints of member states or companies; settling legal disputes
between MSs, EU Institutions, business and individuals.
European Decision Making
-
EU Policy Making Principles
- Conferral: the EU has only that authority conferred upon it by the EU treaties which
have been ratified by all member countries
- Proportionality: The EU cannot exceed what is necessary to achieve the objectives of
the treaties
- Subsidiarity: In areas where either the EU or national governments can act the EU
may intervene only and if it can act more effectively.
EU Law
Primary Legislation
- All the treaties. Comprises the treaties on which the European community the
Euratom and the European Union are founded. Primary legislation also includes
amendments to such treaties and the accession Treaties
Secondary Legislation
- Comprises acts of European Communities, the Euratom and the European Union
adopted by EU institutions on the basis of primary legislation such a as regulations
directives, decisions recommendations and opinions.
Policy Dictionary
- Regulation: directly applicable, binding in their entirety, no further legislative action
required
- Directive: binding as to the common aim transposition by member states = margin of
maneuver: most of the regulation applicable to media subsidiarity.
- Decisions: fully binding on those (companies, individuals) to whom they are directed
- Recommendations/opinions: non-binding, declaratory, but has political pressure
- AND: non-formal instruments (resolutions, communications, green papers,
agreements, etc.
